I've enjoyed reading the posts on the topic of time and it's clear it's something we all think about a lot. It's interesting to me that I don't think in terms of time management, but rather in creating a day. Each day I have the choice of how to structure it, and as much as that can be a challenge, I love that freedom.A couple of pieces of advice I was given by smart writers years ago have been helpful. Once when I was talking about phoning Lisa Westberg Peters, she said, "Before noon is too soon." For Lisa the morning was writing time and she put off her contact with the rest of the world until the afternoon. I've tried to follow that and frequently don't check email until after noon. It's a gentle reminder that the first thing I need to do each day is write, and that there's plenty of time later to do the other things.
The other piece of wisdom came from the poet Naomi Shihab Nye. She told me once that one word that she does not use for herself is busy. I was struck by how freeing it could be to remove this word from one's vocabulary and how it clarifies that what we do is a reflection of our intent. I haven't used the word busy in years, and it helps me to enjoy what I do more.
When my mother died, I was struck by how little we know about the time we have. I'm still in that mourning period, but I am becoming clearer about some of what I want to do and don't want to do with the time that I have.
6 comments:
Yep, the freedom of inventing each day is a thing to love. Great advice from both of these writers. I am going to try to eliminate the word "busy" from my vocabulary from this day forward and see how it feels. It might be just the right medicine!
Yesterday we took Cooper to have his wrist checked at a clinic near Regents Hospital. Matthew's brother died suddenly of a heart attack in that hospital when he was visiting this past summer. Seeing the hospital again was like a knock in the head and heart. We do know so little about the time we have and these thoughts like yours define my days.
Oh my, John and Lauren. You've both put time management into an entirely different frame of reference for me! And right now I feel a sense of calm settling over me. Thank you both!
I'm also going to eliminate the word busy. And try to be better about getting stuff done earlier in the day...
I often think of my friend and colleague Barbara Knutson, an author and illustrator whose career started at the same time as mine. She died in 2005 in her mid 40's. Her death has been a reoccurring reminder to me to appreciate each day and live as fully as possible, because we aren't guaranteed a long life. Barb lived a very full life, and even in death, she continues to have a positive effect on me.
David, I'm glad you mentioned Barb. She had a big impact on me as well as she was the one who encouraged me and offered advice for doing school visits in other parts of the world. I miss her and the books she would have created.
I'm going to institute the "no outside distractions until noon" rule myself, John. I like that one. Of course here I am at 8:37 in the morning checking the blog and adding my comments. Maybe I'll impose the noon rule tomorrow!!
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